Prime Minister Naoto Kan has unofficially asked Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrise Party of Japan), a minor opposition force, to join the ruling bloc, a Tachiagare Nippon executive said Friday.
The move is an apparent attempt by Kan to gain as much support as possible to ensure passage of the budget and related bills for the next fiscal year.
Kan did not deny the allegation in a joint interview at the press club later in the day.